No. 25—1882.] SINHALESE FOLK-LORE STORIES. 



229 



strange persons should have any share in your property ?", asked 

 one. " You are all my children : divide it amongst you fairly", 

 came in sepulchral tones from the grave. Having received a 

 box containing some valuable articles, they started off, and after 

 journeying for some time lay down to rest near the sea-shore, 

 placing the box between them. One, finding the other asleep 

 shortly afterwards, took the box, and, going into the sea as high 

 as the armpits, buried it in the sand ; then going back again to 

 his place fell asleep. Soon afterwards the second man awoke, 

 and, finding his neighbour asleep and the box gone, guessed 

 what had been done with it. He therefore commenced to lick 

 along the whole length of his body, and, finding the taste of salt 

 did not go above his armpits, knew the depth' where it was 

 buried. Having discovered the box, he carried it away, and hid 

 himself in one of a number of ricks of straw that were standing 

 a short distance off. On the other man awakening, he knew 

 that his friend had discovered the treasure and made off with it, 

 but, as had not had time to escape far, he thought that he was 

 most likely hiding in one of the heaps of straw hard by. 

 Tying a sokada (wooden bullock bell) round his neck he went 

 on his hands and knees knocking his head against each of the 

 ricks. The man who was hiding hearing the noise and thinking 

 it was a buffalo, shouted out " Jah ! jah ! Tcotiyd Jcd*f" and so 

 was discovered. After this, it is said, they divided the spoil 

 equally. 



IV. — HOW THE TUMPANE FOLK WENT A-BeES-NeSTING. 



Among the folk stories of the Sinhalese there are a large 

 number which relate to simpletons, — a class of stories which we 

 find in most countries. The following bears some resemblance 

 to the story of the Wise Men of Gotham, who, seeing the reflec- 

 tion of the full moon in the river Trent as they passed over, 

 and thinking it to be a cheese lying at the bottom, lowered one 

 of their number with a rope to reach it. 



One day- a man in Tumpane (a district renowned for its 

 foolish people) wanted some honey for his daughter who was 



* Ail imprecation, lit, " May a tiger eat you !" 



